POLITICS: Senate Panel OKs Kagan!

(AP) – The Senate Judiciary Committee voted today to approve Elena Kagan's nomination to the Supreme Court. The 13-6 vote sends Kagan's nomination to the full Senate, where she's expected to be confirmed as early as next week to succeed John Paul Stevens. Just one Republican, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, joined panel Democrats in supporting President Obama's second Supreme Court nominee.

A few more Republicans are likely to back her in the full Senate, where Democrats have more than enough votes to confirm her. Most GOP senators argue that Kagan would put her political views ahead of the law. They also point to what they call her liberal agenda on such issues as abortion and gun rights.